Digital Hub Prototype Developed to Promote Nagaland’s Indigenous Languages

A five-day national workshop on “Crafting Digital Resources for the Languages of Nagaland” concluded at Tetso College, Sovima, on August 22, with the development of a working prototype of the Nagaland Language Digital Hub as a key outcome. Organised by the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru, in collaboration with Tetso College’s Department of Linguistics, the workshop brought together linguists, language experts, native speakers and community resource persons to develop digital resources for 12 languages—Angami, Ao, Khezha, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Lotha, Phom, Rengma, Sangtam, Sumi, Tikhir and Zeme. Participants worked on language data collection, audio recording, transcription, verification and prototype development. The digital hub currently features 13 interactive games and learning activities, including Picture Match, Word Match, Listen & Spell, Sentence Builder, Family Tree and Crossword, aimed at learners ranging from children to heritage language speakers. Organisers said the prototype will undergo further testing and refinement before being adapted for other indigenous languages of Northeast India. Community participation remained central, with native speakers helping collect and verify language data. The next phase is scheduled for February 2027, when the prototype is expected to be further developed and expanded. The initiative represents a significant step towards documenting indigenous languages, promoting digital inclusion and using technology to support language learning and preservation in contemporary educational and community settings.